Stories for August 2016

Tuesday, August 16th 2016 - 06:38 UTC
Fearful of public's reaction Temer will not attend Rio Olympics closing ceremony

Brazil's interim President Michel Temer's press office informed on late Monday that he will not attend the closing ceremony of the Rio Olympic Games, which will be held on the evening of August 21 at the world-renowned Maracana stadium.
Tuesday, August 16th 2016 - 06:29 UTC
More French towns adopt Burkinis' ban; clashes in Corsican beaches

A French court has rejected a demand by a group of French Muslims in Cannes to overturn a ban on full-body, head-covering swimwear on city beaches. A lawyer for the Collective Against Islamophobia in France said after the decision Saturday by a court in nearby Nice that he would lodge an appeal with the Council of State, the highest administrative body in France.
Tuesday, August 16th 2016 - 06:17 UTC
Chinese woman falls overboard from cruise vessel and is rescued 38 hours later

Chinese woman who fell off a cruise ship and drifted at sea for 38 hours before being rescued by fishermen has lived to tell the tale. The woman from Shanghai, known only by her surname Fan, leaned too far forward from a ship deck and fell overboard, according to Chinese media.
Tuesday, August 16th 2016 - 06:11 UTC
British Airways cuts its food service on flights less than eight and a half hours

British Airways has cut its food service and will no longer provide two meals to economy travelers on flights lasting less than eight-and-a-half hours. Instead of two full meals, passengers will only receive one as part of the new measures, which also apply to journeys lasting less seven hours for premium economy passengers.
Tuesday, August 16th 2016 - 06:01 UTC
Latam airlines has poor performance in 2Q; defers incorporation of new aircraft

Latin America's largest airline, reported a wider-than-forecast net loss in the second quarter of US$92 million, as it struggles to overcome tough economic conditions in its key markets. The airline made a loss of US$50 million in the same period a year ago, a quarter that is traditionally weak for seasonal reasons.
Monday, August 15th 2016 - 15:09 UTC
July inflation in Brazil remains over target: 8.74% in twelve months

Inflation in Brazil rose more sharply in July than economists expected, official data showed, raising pressure on the central bank to keep interest rates on hold for some time.
Monday, August 15th 2016 - 13:34 UTC
New Zealand track Rockhopper penguins 15.000 km winter journeys

Two species of sub-Antarctic penguin have surprised scientists in New Zealand by travelling up to 15,000km during six months spent at sea. Researchers tagged 90 Rockhopper and Snares crested penguins to find out where they go during the southern hemisphere's winter, and were astonished by the birds' long-distance journeys, the New Zealand Herald reports.
Monday, August 15th 2016 - 12:36 UTC
Norwegian cruise line admits weak Caribbean summer season; South American itineraries “soft”

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio said the company’s “lofty” expectations for the Caribbean this summer have not been met, one factor in revising expectations downward for the rest of the year. In a conference call to discuss second-quarter results this week, Norwegian lowered its guidance for second-half earnings and said it will not make its previously forecast goal of earning US$5 a share in 2017.
Monday, August 15th 2016 - 12:21 UTC
Mercosur Montevideo 23 August meeting to decide sanctions on Venezuela

The coordinators of Mercosur founding members will decide next 23 August at a meeting in Montevideo on the legal measures to be applied on Venezuela, which self proclaimed itself the presidency of the group and is also questioned for not complying with the rules and regulations to be incorporated to the group. In that case Venezuela could lose its full member status.
Monday, August 15th 2016 - 07:28 UTC
Argentina's economy: a battle over utility bills is president Macri’s first big crisis

The following article from The Economist points out that the Argentine Supreme Court in the next ten days has to decide on tariff rises for gas and electricity blocked by lower courts. And president Macri cannot afford to lose sine the price increases are a vital part of his plan to restore confidence in an economy undermined by years of reckless spending.